BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – How Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal said he plans to attack the twists and turns of the 2.38-mile Barber Motorsports Park road course during the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama caught the attention of students from seven Birmingham City high schools during an event at the racetrack April 24.
Rahal, driver of the No. 15 National Guard car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, took students trackside and used a show car to explain the physicality of racing for 90 laps on the road course punctuated by 80 feet of elevation change.
The students – all of whom have an interest in science, technology, engineering and math -- participated in Alabama Power’s fourth Automobiles for a Cleaner Tomorrow education event. Rahal and other guests pointed out how the sciences connect to the automotive industry and racing.
“Our relationship with Alabama Power is one that we greatly value,” said Rick Humphrey, vice president of ZOOM Motorsports, the event promoter of Barber Motorsports Park. “Their dedication to investing in the lives of children through the Alabama Power: Automobiles for a Cleaner Tomorrow education event is remarkable.”
Back in ‘Bama
Juan Pablo Montoya returns to race in Alabama for the first time since rejoining the Verizon IndyCar Series this season. Talladega Superspeedway was the site of Montoya's first career stock car race and the first pole of his NASCAR career.
"Barber is a really a cool racetrack with the way they used the terrain and hills. But it's really fast and coming here for the first time (to test) in February was an eye-opening experience,” he said.
How to train your IndyCar
Helio Castroneves’ No. 3 AAA-sponsored car will feature a promotion of the DreamWorks feature film "How To Train Your Dragon 2," which will hit theaters June 13.
Castroneves, the 2010 race winner at Barber, recorded a safe driving public service announcement that included promotion of the movie.
“Winning the first race there in 2010 was a great feeling. Everyone wants to be the first to do something,” Castroneves said. “Team Penske has been pretty solid there and I expect more of the same this weekend.”
Eye-popping stats
In his 10-year Indy car career, Will Power has picked up 20 of his 22 wins on temporary street circuits or road courses. The current Verizon IndyCar Series championship points leader has won two of the four races at Barber and has finished in the top five in the other two races.
“You love any track where you've had a lot of success. It just fits my driving style well,” Power said. “Barber is very high speed with a lot of banking – there aren't many road courses like it that we go to.”
Of note
James Hinchcliffe of Andretti Autosport and Sebastian Saavedra of AFS KVAFS Racing, who reported injuries suffered in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13, have been re-evaluated by INDYCAR medical director Dr. Michael Olinger and cleared to drive.